BOYCOTT MEDSTAR SURGICAL

It’s been more than three months since Medstar Surgical delivered my wheelchair on April 11, 2011. In that time, Medstar was unable to make it useable. Today I had to give up and return it.

Medstar was told by phone, letter and a clinic meeting what needed to be done to make the chair useable. After the clinic meeting, I believed we were on our way to solving the problems and I would have a chair I could use. The most important issues were:

1- Modify ground clearance. I met with Pride Mobility’s rep. and Medstar’s salesperson on August 11, 2010. I asked a very important question- is the new chair compatible with the “easy-lok” brand lockdown device in my van? The answer was yes. I discovered that was incorrect. Pride’s rep. said it could be modified. When the chair was delivered to me July 19, 2011 no modification was made to the ground clearance and the chair is still not compatible with the lockdown device. As such I cannot transport the chair. If I cannot transport the chair, I would not be able to go to the doctor in it. After my sons and I further examined the chair this weekend, it is obvious this chair cannot be modified to work with my lockdown without removing the support for the rear wheels.

2- Install cantilever arms. The armrests delivered made transfers difficult for me, and we agreed at clinic to install cantilever armrests. Upon delivery, I discovered the chair was now too wide to get in my bedroom, which also means I can’t get to my bathroom. This renders the chair utterly useless to me, as I cannot walk or even stand.

3- Install new seat cushion. They got that right, but one out of three is still a failing grade.

I hit the roof after the chair was delivered in this unusable condition. After calling Medstar asking they make changes, I was told via email to accept the chair as-is or return it and go elsewhere.

Medicare paid for a $23,000 chair. After speaking with three different specialists at Medicare, they all agreed I should not accept a chair I can’t use in my home and that I have a reasonable expectation of using that chair to go to the doctor. Medstar doesn’t care whether I can use it or not.

Medstar needs to know they can’t treat their patients this way. BOYCOTT MEDSTAR SURGICAL AND BREATHING!